Location: Barclays Center – Brooklyn, N.Y.

Box Score (PDF)   |   Final Stats and Play-by-Play

St. Bonaventure Starters: #3 G Marcus Posley, #23 G Andell Cumberbatch, #12 F Denzel Gregg, #21 F Dion Wright, #35 C Youssou Ndoye 

The Short Story: St. Bonaventure used a stifling second half defensive effort to defeat Saint Joseph's, 60-49, on Thursday in the second round of the Atlantic 10 Championship at Barclays Center. The Bonnies will now face #2 seed Dayton in the quarterfinals on Friday night at 6:30.

The Bonnies trailed 28-23 at halftime and were behind 34-27 four minutes into the second but rallied with a 10-0 run. Marcus Posley helped to spark the run with a three-pointer, and his layup at the 8:55 mark put St. Bonaventure ahead 43-37. Thanks to their defense, the Bonnies extended the lead to 55-45 on two Posley free throws with 1:09 remaining.

St. Bonaventure held the Hawks to 14-55 from the field (25 percent) – the lowest field goal percentage the Bonnies have allowed this season by a wide margin. In the second half, Saint Joseph's managed only five field goals, going 5-29.

Youssou Ndoye led the Bonnies with 18 points. Dion Wright scored 15 points and grabbed nine rebounds, while Denzel Gregg grabbed 15 rebounds, a career high. Posley finished with 13 points and six assists and Andell Cumberbatch had 12 points and four steals. The Bonnies had a 48-33 edge in rebounds.

How It Happened:

• The Bonnies struggled early against the Hawks' zone defense. St. Joseph's opened a 10-point lead at 22-12 at the 7:14 mark.
• St. Bonaventure rallied with an 11-2 run to trim the deficit to 24-23 by the 2:05 mark. Andell Cumberbatch had five points and Youssou Ndoye scored four in the run that tightened the game.
• St. Joseph's scored the last four points of the first half and led 28-23 at halftime.
• The Bonnies came out with a renewed intensity but Bona still was behind 34-27 four minutes into the second half.
• From that point, St. Bonaventure rallied with a 10-0 run that energized the Bona fans.
• Marcus Posley helped to spark the run with a three-pointer that pulled the Bonnies within 34-32, then Dion Wright's layup tied the game.
• Cumberbatch stole a Hawks pass and went coast-to-coast to give the Bonnies their first lead of the game at 36-34 with 12:57 left.
• St. Bonaventure continued to expand the lead; Posley's layup at the 8:55 mark made it 43-37.
• It was a 45-41 game with 3:47 to go but the Bonnies got some breathing room thanks to a pair of Ndoye free throws and another Posley drive for a layup.
• The lead grew to 55-45 on two Posley free throws with 1:09 remaining.
• Denzel Gregg helped to key the second half rally, as he continually battled inside and came away with rebounds and altered several shots. Gregg wound up grabbing 15 rebounds, a career high, over 34 minutes. His previous career best was eight.

Beyond The Boxscore:

• The Bonnies +15 rebounding margin tied their best A-10 effort this season (Davidson).
• St. Bonaventure is now 6-1 in its last seven A-10 Tournament games and 10-3 all-time as the higher seed.
• Youssou Ndoye is now within three rebounds of 700 for his career, and 33 points away from 1,000 for his career.